Diabetes affects almost 200,000 Irish people and this number is increasing annually. People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular (heart) complications than people who do not have diabetes. At present, there is no programme in place in community pharmacies (local chemists) to provide care to diabetic patients, outside of dispensing medications and supplying devices to measure blood glucose. However, studies elsewhere have shown that community pharmacists can help people with diabetes to control their blood sugars and to manage their risk for heart disease.
This aim of this study is to identify the risk factors occurring most frequently in diabetic people attending a community pharmacy. This will help us to design a future study where community pharmacists work with people with diabetes to improve their diabetic and heart health. The study will be approved by a Research Ethics Committee and all participants will be given written information about the study and will be asked to give signed consent before taking part.
Study participants will be adults with diabetes who attend a community pharmacy. Data collected in the study will focus on the aspects of diabetes patient care in which the pharmacist can intervene. Participants will complete a questionnaire about their medical history, medications, heart health and family history of heart disease. The participants will also be asked if they smoke and some short questions about diet and exercise.
When the study is complete, a report will be written and presented to the Health Research Board.